As early as March of next year, SpaceX intends to move propellant between two orbiting Starships, according to a recent NASA update. This is a big step towards finishing Starship’s demonstration of an unscrewed lunar landing. NASA aims to return humans to the moon with the Artemis program, which includes a $4.05 billion contract awarded to SpaceX for two human-rated Starships. That objective requires this competency. The crewed lunar landing, planned for September 2026, would be the first return to the moon’s surface since the Apollo era.
NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) program deputy manager, Kent Chojnacki, gave specifics regarding the agency’s and SpaceX’s collaboration on this ambitious timeline. He noted that in order to facilitate large-scale cargo movements outside of Earth’s orbit, a number of essential processes must be completed, including the March propellant transfer test.
The HLS program differs significantly from NASA’s conventional Space Launch System (SLS) program in terms of administration and contracting. SpaceX’s HLS contract is based on a fixed-price approach, with payment contingent on reaching predetermined milestones, whereas SLS employs a cost-plus methodology that has been criticized for excessive expenses and delays. Although SpaceX can suggest other benchmarks, such as the next fuel transfer test, this also involves required design evaluations.
The SLS program, which was created using conventional NASA models and comprehensive specifications, launched its first Artemis mission in 2023. However, its design is non-reusable, and it is still expensive. However, if successful, SpaceX’s Starship, with its reusable features, would provide a more environmentally friendly method of going to the moon.
Midway through 2025, NASA will confirm Starship’s readiness based on 27 flexible system criteria during the Critical Design Review (CDR), the next significant milestone. Starship’s interior design is influenced by astronaut reviews every month. By September 2026, SpaceX’s Starship might put the Artemis astronauts on the moon if all goes according to plan.